Today, the state Senate Executive Committee passed House Bill 3500 by a 12 to 0 vote, with two absent. Sponsored by state Senator Kirk Dillard (R-24) and introduced by state Representative Richard Morthland (R-71), this legislation was originally introduced as a firearms preemption bill, but was amended to incorporate a necessary reform to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to ensure that the personal information of people who have applied for or received a Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID) shall not be disclosed unless it is necessary as part of a criminal investigation. HB 3500 is expected on the Senate floor this coming week.
The FOIA amendments contained in HB 3500 became necessary following an opinion issued by anti-gun Attorney General Lisa Madigan in which she stated the Illinois State Police (ISP) must release the personal information of every law-abiding gun owner in Illinois to the Associated Press (AP). Since the mid-1960’s, the ISP has maintained a database with all FOID information, and has considered this material to be confidential and not subject to release. The AP had previously filed a FOIA request for this very information. Enactment of HB 3500 is absolutely essential to protect your rights as a gun owner and ensure that your personal information will stay confidential, and not in the hands of those who have no right to possess it.
A vote by the Senate on this bill is expected to take place within the coming week! Senators are under extreme pressure from the anti-gun opposition which wants this bill weakened or killed. Please contact your state Senator TODAY and urge him or her to support HB 3500 when it is brought up for a vote! Contact information for your state Senator can be found here.
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